Fine & decorative arts open fall season at Fontaine’s Oct. 17

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Fontaine’s Auction Gallery will present a broadly diversified auction featuring fine and decorative arts from fine estates throughout New England at its auction on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 11 a.m. EDT. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

This auction will feature 400 lots of art glass, cameo glass, American art pottery, Louis Vuitton trunks, 19th and 20th century lighting, weathervanes, advertising signs, mechanical banks, Asian items, sterling silver, a collection of John Rogers statuary, American and European paintings, early blown flasks, historical soft paste, Shaker items, bronzes, American Indian pottery, Oriental rugs, leaded windows, Arts and Crafts items, swords, firearms, plus related accessories.

“This auction is filled with conversation pieces and a really diverse range of fine goods across the board,” said John Fontaine, owner of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “No matter what your collecting interest, buyers will be sure to find something here.”

An expected highlight in the auction is a George Benjamin Luks (American, 1867-1933), oil on canvas, Lower Manhattan (below; $6,000-$9,000).

Other fine paintings crossing the block include a Leon Jean Basile Perrault (French, 1832-1908), oil on canvas, Give Me for My Chapel ($3,000-$5,000), and a Robert Kemm (British, 1837-1895), oil on canvas, Girl with Fishing Net, ($3,000-$5,000).

Several lots are being sold to benefit the Marie McWilliams and Francis X. McWilliams ’44 Scholarship Fund at Bard College, including a platinum and diamond ring ($6,000-$8,000), centered by a 1½-carat round brilliant diamond, and a Persian Kerman room size Oriental carpet ($2,500-$3,500) having an overall floral design, 12 feet 7 inches by 8 feet 7 inches.

The auction is a diverse affair, running the gamut from fine antiques to contemporary art, vintage advertising to antique weaponry and more. Highlights range from a rare Louis Vuitton custom shoe trunk owned by J.P. Morgan family ($3,000-$5,000) in orange leather, to a group lot of 21 pieces of .800 silver, including trays, bowls and serving items ($2,500-$3,500).

Among design standouts are a small but nice selection of weathervanes, led by a 19th century gilt eagle weathervane ($2,500-$3,500) with spread wings and perched on a ball centered on an arrow, 59 by 30 by 29 inches; and a 19th century horse weathervane ($2,000-$3,000) in copper and zinc weathervane depicting a horse in stride, 20 by 26½ inches.

Art pottery will cross the block, led by a Rookwood Pottery matte floral vase ($2,500-$3,500), circa 1904, decorated with large green leaves and clusters of pink flowers, artist signed by Olga Geneva Reed, and a group of 15 Grueby faience pottery tiles ($2,000-$3,000) decorated with a mermaid, floral motifs, swans and landscape scenes.

Rounding out the auction will be a pair of Prairie School leaded glass windows attributed to George Washington Maher ($2,000-$3,000) with geometric and foliate decoration, an ornate French bronze chandelier ($2,000-$3,000) having intricate designs of swirling filigree and acanthus throughout and a Rumsey & Co. Fire Engines & Supplies advertising sign in the form of a three-dimensional fireman’s hat, ($2,000-$3,000).

For details contact Fontaine’s at 413-448-8922 or info@fontainesauction.com.

 

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